Medicare in Polk County by the numbers
| Polk County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 10,265 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.9% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 19,065 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,961 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 47.0% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 10,265 residents age 65 and older, Polk County is 61st among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 18.9% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. The 5,076 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 74% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 22% is 75 to 84 and 3% is 85 or older. About 47.0% of people with Medicare in Polk County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is lower than the Texas average of 54.9%. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Polk County
The USDA classifies Polk County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 20,025 Medicare beneficiaries in Polk County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 7% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Polk County, CMS reported about 516 emergency room visits and 193 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (580) and lower than it for hospital stays (226). About 7% received home health care. These figures describe how people use care under Original Medicare; they do not show what any plan covers or costs.
Sources: CMS Medicare Geographic Variation, 2023; USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, 2023.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Polk County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Polk County; we help Polk County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Polk County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Polk County:
- CHI St. Lukes Health Memorial Livingston — Livingston (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan before you enroll. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Where people live in Polk County
People in Polk County live in communities such as Livingston (5,747), Onalaska (3,224), Corrigan (1,435), Goodrich (278), Seven Oaks (73) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Polk County, that means areas such as 75934, 75939, 75960, 77326, 77335, 77350, 77351, 77360, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Polk County?
Reach out to us: fill out our short form or call (571) 354-0146, and a licensed agent will compare the plans available to you, check your doctors and drugs, and stay with you each year at renewal. For general Medicare information, the federal helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare resources from official sources
- Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, searchable by ZIP code.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Texas Department of Insurance: Texas’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Polk County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Polk County residents we can compare final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Let’s check your Polk County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Polk County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Polk County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nacogdoches County | 10,570 | 51.7% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Lamar County | 9,755 | 37.6% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Cherokee County | 9,468 | 53.1% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Navarro County | 9,263 | 52.3% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Anderson County | 9,081 | 54.3% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Walker County | 11,590 | 58.5% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.